Electrically-operated switch-machine.



W. K. HOWE.

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED mac 1, l9l6.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

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W. K. HOWE.

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC, 7. I916- Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

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W. K. HOWE.

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7. l9l6- Patented Dec. 24,1918.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3.

ELECTRI W. K. HOWE.

CALLY OPERATED SWITCH MACHINE.

PPLICATION FILED DEC. 7, I916.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

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W. K. HOWE. ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 24,1918. 6 SHEETS-SHEEI 6 Mw J'M APPLICATION FILED DEC-7.1916- W0 A TTURIVEY ran 1 WINTHROIP K. HOWE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF GATES, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELEGTRICALLY-OPERATED SWITCH-MACHINE.

Original application filed May 18, 1915, Serial No. 28,916.

Serial No. 135,669.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VINTHROP K. HOWE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Electrically- Operated Switch-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrically operated switch machines for interlocking systems. The subject matter of this application is divided from my prior application Serial No. 28,916, filed May 18, 1915.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to construct and arrange the parts of an electrically operated switch machine so that said parts will occupy a small compass, will be readily accessible for inspection, adjustment or repair, and will be capable of being made strong and durable.

A further object of the invention is to construct and arrange the control device for the motor which operates the switch machine so that said motor may be reversed and the parts of the switch machine restored to their former position at any time after the initial movement of the motor, and, if necessary, before the switch has been unlocked or partially unlocked.

Further objects of the invention relate to the details of the construction, whereby the switch machine will be simple, efiicient, durable and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the invention progresses, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations of parts more fully set forth hereinafter.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated a preferred physical embodiment of my invention, and wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views; and in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch machine embodying the invention, the cover therefor being removed and parts thereof being broken away; Fig. 2, is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, looking in the direc- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

Divided and this application filed December 7,

tion of the arrow; Fig. 3, is a vertical transverse section on the line 33 in Fig. 2, lookmg in the direction of the arrow y; Figs. 4, 5 and 6, are details of the indication tripper arm constituting one of the operating parts of the switch machine; Fig. 7, is an enlarged perspective view, diagrammatic in its nature, showing parts of the device for controlling the operating and indication circuits, said parts being spread apart vertically and deformed slightly from their exact proportions so as to show the relative arrangement and positions of these parts; Figs. 8 to 11, are diagrammatic views showing the different positions of the throw rod, locking bar and indication slide of the switch machine at different times during the movement of the switch from one position to another; Fig. 12, is a plan view showing the application of a switch machine embodying the invention to a typical switch layout; Fig. 13, is a diagram which shows graphically the timing of the different operating parts of the switch machine; and Fig. 14:, is the wiring diagram for the switch machine and its controller.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in Fig. '12 is shown a switch machine embodying the-invention applied to a switch layout typical of well known construction. The switch machine A for operating the switch is secured to the ties at one side of the stock rails 1 0f the main or straight track and adjacent to the movable switch points 2; and the parts of the switch machine A are mounted in a protecting casing of suitable construction which 'is provided with a weather tight cover. The electric motor 3 for moving the switch is preferably mounted in a separate casing adjacent to one end of the switch machine A. The switch points'2 are connected to a throw rod 4 and to a lock rod The detector bar 6 is connected to a rock lever 7 which is connected in turn to the locking bar 8 of the switch machine. For convenience in description, the end of the switch machine A adjacent to the rock lever 7, and opposite to the motor 3, will be hereinafter termed the front end.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the casing for the switch machine comprises a base plate 9, which is provided with apertured lugs 10, said lugs being adapted to be fastened to the shaft 15.

to the ties so as to hold the switch machine in place. t the rear end of the base plate 9 is bolted a box-like frame 11, in the rear Wall of which is journaled a shaft 12 extending longitudinally of said base plate 9. The shaft 12 is connected by suitable universal couplings or joints 13 and a short shaft 14 to the motor 3, as shown in Fig. 12. A shaft 15 is j ournaled in the front wall of the frame 11 in alinement with the shaft 12, and a friction clutch 16 of suitable construction is connected between the adjacent ends of the shafts 12 and 15.

Secured to the base plate 9 near its mlddle is a second box-like frame 17 for supporting and housing the main gear of the switch ma chine and its associated operating parts. This main gear frame 17 has an integral cross-piece 18 which extends transversely of said frame near the middle thereof and a supporting member 19 which extends from the middle of the cross-piece 18 longitudinally to the rear end wall of the main gear frame 17. Mounted between the supporting member 19 and the base plate 9 is a vertical shaft 20,'to the upper end of which is secured a bevel-gear 21, and meshing with this bevelgear is a bevel-pinion 22, which is fixed Extending downwardly through the cross-piece 18, near the middle thereof, is a stud bolt 23, upon which is screw-threaded a bearing stud 24 having a horizontal flange or rim 25 around its lower circumferential edge. Mounted on the bear ing stud 24 is a gear 26, and meshing with the gear 26 is a pinion 27 fixed to the aforesaid shaft 20. A washer 28 is interposed between the bearing stud 24 and the main gear 26 and cross-piece 18. A pin 29 is fixed to the main gear 26 and extends downwardly therefrom; and j ournaled on said pin 29 are two cam rollers 30.

The locking bar 8 of the machine extends longitudinally thereof and rests upon the base plate 9. This locking bar 8 is substantially T-shaped, being widest at its rear end, where it is guided by suitable guiding surfaces at each side of the base-plate 9, and in this wide portion of the locking bar 8 is a cam slot 31 of a general elliptical shape which cooperates with the lower cam roller 30 of the driving in 29. The locking bar 8 has a locking og 32 near its middle for locking the throw rod 4 and another locking dog 33 near its front end for locking the lock rod 5. Resting upon the locking bar 8 is an indication slide 34, which has a slot 35 therein near its middle in which fits the locking dog 32 for the throw rod 4. Near the front end of the indication slide 34 is a slot 36 of a general T-shape. The indication slide 34 is substantially T-shape, being widest at its rear end, and in this wide portion of said indication slide is a cam slot 37 of a general elliptical shape. The cam slot 37 of the indication slide 34, while of the same general shape as the cam slot 31 of the locking bar 8, is narrower, as shown to the best advantage in Fig. 2. The front end portion of the indication slide 34 is bent up to form an upturned flange 38. V

The throw rod 4 extends transversely of the base plate 9 under the main gear 26 and is formed with a U-shape jaw 39 between its ends with which the upper cam roller 30 c0- operates to cause reciprocatlon of the throw rod as the main gear 26 is rotated. The throw rod 4 has shoulders 40 on each side of the jaw 39, and the locking dog 32 of the locking bar 8 contacts with one or the other of these shoulders 40 when the throw rod is in either one or the other of its extreme positions, thereby locking the throw rod.

Secured to the base plate 9 near the front end thereof is a box-like casing 41 having a removable cover, and in this casing are mounted the devices for controlling the electric circuits of the switch machine. On opposite sides of the casing 41, which will be hereinafter termed the pole-changer casing, are fixed blocks of insulating material to each of which are secured a plurality of metallic contact springs 42. Under the insrlating blocks are fixed two pairs of coils, 43 and 44, for operating the contact maker of the pole-changer hereinafter described. An iron plunger 45 extends between the corresponding coils on opposite sides of the polechanger casing 41, and secured to the plungers 45 is a contact holder 46. A block of insulating material which is omitted from Fig. 7 but is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is se cured .to the upper edge of the contact holder 46, and fixed to this insulating block are two metallic contact blocks 47 which are arranged to make electrical contact with certain pairs of the contact springs 42.

Near the front end of the pole-changer casing 41 is a vertical shaft 48, shown to the best advantage in Fig. 7, the lower end of which is journaled in the bot-tom of said casing 41, and the upper end of which is journaled in a cross-member 49 fastened by screws 50 to suitable lugs 51 integral with said pole-changer casing 41. Fixed to the lower end of the shaft 48 below the bottom of the pole changer casing 41, is a crank-arm 52, the outer end of which has two rounded lateral projections which are shaped to coiiperate with the sides of the slot 36 in the indication slide 34. The cranlearm 52 lies in substantially the same plane as the indication slide 34. The crossmember 49 has upwardly curved supporting members 53 between which is secured a horizontal' pin 54. Slidably mounted on this pin 54 is a contact support 55, and secured to this contact support is a block of insulating material which is omitted from Fig. 7 but is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and which has secured thereto two metallic contact strips 56. The contact support 55 rests upon the outer end of an arm 57 secured to the shaft 48, a in 58 fixed to said contact support fitting in a slot 59 in said arm 57. The arm 57 has laterally projecting lugs 60. Below the arm 57 is an arm 61 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 48 so as to be movable independently thereof. This arm 61 has two laterally projecting lugs 62, similar to the lugs 60 of the arm 57, and in the outer end of the arm 61 is a slot 63 in which fits a pin 64 secured to the contact holder 46.

The lock rod 5 of the switch comprises two bars 5" arranged side by side, which have notches 66 in their lower edges shown more clearly in Fig. 3, and are provided with a suitable device for adjusting them longitudinally relatively to each other in order that the distance between the notches 66 may be changed. Each of these bars 5 has a long notch and a short notch 66, the long notch of one bar 5 being arranged opposite to the short notch of the other bar. The size of the short notch 66 in each bar 5 is such as to receive without appreciable play the locking dog 33 of the locking bar 8. The bars 5 extend transversely of the base plate 9 of a switch machine near the front end thereof and are guided in a casting or supporting frame 67 bolted to said base plate. The casting 67 is provided with two caps 68 which together with the base plate 9 form guide openings for the bars 5. In the longitudinal median line of the base plate 9 are two upwardly projecting lugs 69 integral with the casting 67, and in these lugs 69 is rotatably mounted a rock-shaft 70. Pinned to the rock-shaft 70 is an inverted Y-shape rock-member 71 having two operating arms, the lower ends of which are rounded. Secured to each of the bars 5 of the lock rod 5 is a dog 72, which is arranged to engage the-arms of the rock-member 71 and to rock said member as the lock rod is moved back and forth. The rear end portion of the rock-shaft 70 is squared and straddling this squared end portion of said rock-shaft is the bifurcated end of an indication tripper arm 73. This tripper arm 73 is pivotally connected to the rock-shaft 70 by a horizontal pin 74, and by reason of this construction said tripper arm is able to swing freely forwardly and rearwardly in a vertical plane but must rock sidewise with the rock-shaft 70. The lower end of the indication tripper arm 7 3, shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, has a forwardly extending projection 75 which is arranged to be engaged by the upturned flange 38 of the indication slide 34. The lower end of the tripper arm 73 also has a flat face 76 which is arranged to engage one or the other of the laterally projecting lugs 60 and 62 of the arms 57 and 61 respectively when said tripper arm is at one side or the other of the shaft 48. The machine is provided with a suitable cover, preferably consisting of two end castings and an intermediate piece of sheet metal.

The switch machine hereinbefore described is designed to be controlled at a distance by a suitable controller. The operating and indication circuits for the switch machine are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 14, and in this figure is shown a sliding controller 77 which is moved back and forth by the operator. The construction of this controller 77, the indication latches, the indication magnets and other parts associated therewith form no part of this invention; and being shown and described more particularly in the patent to John D. Taylor, No. 752,127, of February 16th, 1904, said controller and its associated devices will not be herein described in detail except in so far as is necessary to make the operation of the switch machine clear. The controller 77 has four positions, namely, normal, normal indication, reverse indication and reverse, named in the order in'which they occur as the controller is pulled outwardly from the position shown in Fig. 14. The final movement of the controller in either direction releases the mechanical interlocking.

Referring to Fig. 14, the operation of the switch machine in throwing the switch from normal to reverse, is as follows: The controller 77 is ulled out and the contact blocks 78 and 9 secured thereto engage between the contact springs 80, 81, 82 and 83. This movement of the controller 77 estab lishes an operating circuit for the motor as follows: positive pole of the battery 84, conductor 85, contact spring 82, contact block 79, contact spring 83, conductor 86, conductor 87, conductor 88, contact spring 89, contact block 90, contact spring 91, conductor 92, conductor 93, armature 94 of the motor, conductor 95, conductor 96, contact spring 97, contact block 98, contact spring 99, conductor 100, and conductor 101, the field 102 of the motor, conductor 103 and common return wire 104 and conductor 105 back to the negative pole of the battery. At the same time the reverse pole-changer operating coils 44 are energized by the following circuits: positive pole of the battery 84, conductor 85, contact spring 82, contact block 79, contact spring 83, conductor 86, conductor 87, conductor 106, contact spring 107, contact strip 108, cont-act spring 109, conductor 110, re verse pole-changer coils 44, conductor 111, to the common return 104 and back to the negative pole of the battery. The reverse polechanger coils being energized hold the polechanger contact maker 46 in its proper position to supply current to operate the motor in the direction to reverse the switch.

The motor being supplied with electric current, drives the shaft 12, the friction clutch 16, the shaft 15, the bevel-pinion 22, th bevel-gear 21, the shaft 20, the pinion 27 the main driving gear 26, and pin 29 in the main driving gear 26 which is moved by said gear in a circular path. The diagram in Fig. 13 indicates in general the timing of the different operating parts of the switch machine. In this diagram horizontal distances represent in degrees a complete revoluton of the driving gear 26 and the short vertical lines intersecting the horizontal lines point out when a change is made in the condition of the operating part corresponding to this horizontal line. Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 show diagrammatically the position of the driving pin 29, the locking bar 8, the indication slide 34, and the throw rod 4 at different points in one revolution of the main gear. Fig. 8 shows the position of thes parts when the current is first supplied to the motor to reverse the switch. The pin 29 is assumed to travel in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 8, and for about the first forty degrees of the revolution of the main driving gear the motor runs freely without moving any part of the switch machine, since the lower cam roller 30 of th driving pin 29 follows the curved portions at the rear edge of the cam slots 31 and 37 of the locking bar 8, and the indication slide 34 respectively, these curved portions being formed on the arc of a circle concentric with the circular path of travel of the driving pin 29. This free run of the motor allows its armature to accelerate and attain such speed as to develop its full power in the subsequent movement of the switch. After this free run of the motor the lower cam roller 30 of the driving pin 29 strikes the front edge of the cam slot 37 of the indication slide 34, which front dge is located in the rear of the front edge of the cam slot 31 in the locking rod 8, as shown to the best advantage in Figs. 2 and 8; and the indication slide is moved forwardly by said cam roller independently of the locking bar 8. This movement of the indication slide 34 causes engagement between the enlarged front end of the slot 36 in said slide and the rounded lateral projections on the front end of the crank arm 52, thereby swinging the crank arm 52 to its mid position. The reason for this movement of the crank arm 52 will be pointed out after the operation of the switch machine under normal conditions has been explained. After the short forward movement of the indication slide 34 the lower cam roller 30 of the driving pin 29 contacts with the front edge of the cam slot 31 of the locking bar 8 as shown in Fig. 9, and during the next part of the movement of the driving pin (from about fifty degrees to about 135 degrees) the locking bar 8 is moved forwardly. During about the first half of this forward movement of the locking bar 8 (from about 50 degrees to 100 degrees) the locking dog 33 is carried out of engagement with the corresponding notches 66 in the lock rod 5, and the locking dog 32 is carried out of engage ment with one of the shoulders 40 of the throw rod 4, thereby unlocking the switch. Duringthis movement of the driving pin 29 the upper cam roller 30 enters the jaw of the throw rod 4, and soon after the switch is unlocked the movement of said throw rod is commenced. Due to the lost motion connection between the throw rod 4 and the switch points 2, shown in Fig. 12, the first part of the movement of the throw rod does not move the switch points. The lock rod 5 is moved by th switch points and as said switch points reach their reverse position, the dog 72 on said lock rod rocks the rock-member 71 and swings the tripper arm 73 to the opposite side of the shaft 48. ivhortly after the throw rod has commenced its movement (at about 135 degrees) the lower cam roller 30 of the driving pin 29 reaches the curved portions along the front edges of the cam slots 31 and 37 of the looking bar 8 and the indication slide 34 respectively shown in Fig. 10, and since this curved portion is formed in the arc of a circle concentric with the path of movement of the driving pin, forward movement of the indication cam 34 and the locking rod 8 ceases. Shortly before the throw rod has reached its extreme position (at about two hundred and thirty degrees) the lower cam roller 30 on the driving pin 29 strikes the rear edges of the cam slots 31 and 37 in the locking bar 8 and the indication slide 34 and moves said locking bar and said indication slide together rearwardly. As soon as the throw rod 4 reaches the end of its movement (at about two hundred angLfijty-five degrees) the locking dog 33 is about to enter the corresponding notch 66 in the lock rod 5 and the locking dog 32 is about to pass behind the corresponding shoulder 40 of the throw rod 4, so as to lock the switch. The locking bar 8 commences the locking of the switch at about 260 degrees, and continues this locking movement until the driving pin 29 reaches about 315 degrees. At this latter point in the travel of the driving pin 29 the lower cam roller 30 carried thereby clears the rear edge of the cam slot 31 of the locking bar 8, as shown in Fig. 11, and bears against the rear edge of the cam slot 37 of the indication slide 34 alone, thereby causing a final rearward movement of the indi- 1Ec)ation slide independently of the locking ar 8. r

In this final movement of the indication slide 34 the upturned flange 38 thereon engages the rearwardly extending projection 75 of the indication tripper arm 73 and swings said tripper arm rearwardly against the lateral projections 60 and 62 of the arms 57 and 61 respectively, which are located on the side of the shaft 48 corresponding to the side to which said tripper arm was swung by the lock rod 5. The tripper arm 73 rocks the shaft 48 and the arm 57, and the contact support 55 is shifted to the extreme position opposite to the position it formerly occupied, so as to break the circuit through the reverse pole-changer operating coils 44 and to prepare the circuit through the normal polechanger operating coils 43 and make it possible to energize these normal pole-changer operating coils by moving the controller 77 to its normal indication position for the next operation of the switch from reverse to nor mal, said circuit being as follows: positive pole of the battery 84, conductor 85, conductor 125, contact spring 126, contact block 7 8, contact spring 127, conductors 128, 122 and 129, contact spring 130, contact strip 131, contact spring 132, conductor 133, through the normal pole-changer operating coils 43, conductor 134, to the common return wire 104 and conductor 105 back to the negative pole of the battery. The arm 61 is simultaneouslyrocked by the tripper arm 73 and the contact holder 46 is moved to the position opposite to the position it formerly occupied, that is opposite to the position shown in Fig. 14. This movement of the contact holder 46 interrupts the supply of current to the motor at the contact springs 89 and 91, but the motor continues to revolve due to its acquired momentum. As the contact blocks 90 and 98 carried by the contact holder 46 make electrical contact with the contact springs 112, 113, 114 and 115 in its new shifted position, the circuit for the inclication current is established as follows: from one brush of the armature 94 of the motor, conductor 93, conductor 116, contact spring 114, contact block 98, contact spring 115, conductor 117, conductor 101, field 102 of the motor, conductor 103, common return 104, conductor 118, indication magnet 119, conductor 120, contact springs 81, contact block 78, contact springs 80, conductors 121, 122 and 123, contact spring 112, contact block 90, contact spring 113, conductors 124 and 95, back to the other brush of the armature of the motor. By this circuit the motor is placed on a closed circuit through the inclication magnet, and the current generated by the motor acting as a generator passes through said indication magnet and releases the indication locking of the controller, thereby enabling said controller to be moved by the operator to its full reverse position to release the mechanical interlocking. The operation of moving the switch from reverse to normal is the same as hereinbefore described, the motor, however, revolving in the opposite direction.

Referring again to the first part of the operation of the switch machine, the indication slide 34 is moved by the lower cam roller 30 of the driving pin 29 immediately after the motor has finished its free run; and, as hereinbefore described, this movement of the indication slide shifts the crank-arm 52 into its mid position, the shaft 48 and the arm 57 fixed thereto being simultaneously rocked. The arm 57 by means of the pin 58 shifts the contact support 55 to its mid position wherein both pairs of contact springs controlled by said contact support are bridged. By this movement of the contact support 55 the circuit hereinbefore described through the normal pole-changer operating coils 43 is prepared so that it may be completed by a movement of the controller 77 back to its normal indication position. The upturned flange 38 of the indication slide 34 having been moved forwardly, the tripper arm 73 may swing freely forwardly and will not interfere with the movement of the arm 61. Consequently, the contact holder 46 of the pole-changer is free to be shifted by the coils 43, and will be so shifted if the controller 77 is returned to its normal position. Then the contact holder 46 is thus shifted, an operating circuit for reversing the direction of rotation of the motor is established as follows: positive pole of the battery 84, conductors 85, and 125, contact spring 126, contact block 78, contact spring 127, conductors 128, 122, and 123, contact spring 112, contact block 90, contact spring 113, conductors 124, and 95, motor armature 94, conductors 93 and 116, contact spring 114, contact block 98, contact spring 115, conductors 117 and 101, field 102 of the motor, conductor 103 back to the common return wire 104 and through the conductor 105 to the negative pole of. the battery. When this circuit is established the direction of rotation of the motor is reversed and the parts of the switch machine are restored to their former position. This circuit may be established by proper movement of the controller 77 at any time after the indication slide 34 has been moved far enough to swing the arm 52 to its mid position and consequently, if necessary, before the locking rod 8 has been moved. In other words, the operating parts of the switch machine may be restored to their former positions before the switch is unlocked, or at any time thereafter prior to the final movements of said parts.

In the switch machine shown and hereinbefore described, the operating parts, such as the throw rod 4, the indication slide 34 and the locking bar 8, which are moved back and forth during the operation of the machine, are located below the main driving gear 26, so that space is economized. Also, the above mentioned parts which are moved during the operation of throwing the switch, are all operated by the driving pin 29, so

that these parts cannot be operated separately or improperly in any way except in the proper sequence. The throw rod 4 of the switch is locked, as well as the lock rod 5, in the normal and reverse positions of the switch, so that said switch cannot be accidentally or intentionally thrown in case the lock rod 5 is broken or disconnected; and this locking of the throw rod is easily obtained in the construction herein described by providing the shoulders 40 thereon for cotiperation with the locking dog 32 on the locking bar 8. The contact holder 46 for the pole-changer cannot be shifted manually or by energizing its operating coils 43 and 44 while the switch is locked up in either its normal or its reverse position, for the reason that the indication slide 34 holds the tripper arm 73 against one of the laterally projecting lugs 62 of the arm 61, thereby preventing movement of said contact holder 46. Consequently, it is not possible to accidentally or maliciously jar the contact holder 46 of the pole-changer from the position shown in F ig. 14, when the switch is locked up in its normal position, nor can the contact holder 46 be shifted by stray currents in the normal pole-changer operating coils 43.

The contact support 55, which opens and closes a break in the operating circuits for the pole-change operating coils 43 and 44, is operated independently of the locking bar 8 and before said locking bar is moved. This arrangement is better than the arrangement wherein the contact support 55 is operated by the locking bar, because in the latter arrangement, in case the locking bar should become stuck for any reason, or in case the detector bar connected to'said locking bar could not be moved because of the presence of a train on the track above the switch points, the contact support 55, being operated by the locking bar, could not be moved and consequently the motor could not be reversed. If the motor could not be reversed and if the obstacle which prevents the completion of the switch movement is not removed so that the switch could be thrown, an indication could not be given and the controller for this switch would be held by the indication latches between its normal and reverse indication positions, so that the mechanical interlocking associated with that controller could not be released. In the machine shown and described, however, the contact support 55 is moved at the beginning of the switch operating cycle and before the locking bar or any other of its operating parts are moved. Consequently, the motor can be reversed and the parts of the switch machine restored t their former position in case any part, even the locking bar, should be stuck, or for some other reathe indication slide actuated this tripper arm 7 3 to break the motor operating circuit. By reason of this arrangement and construction of parts, it is not possible to secure an indication that the switch has been moved unless the switch points have actually moved. For instance, suppose the throw rod 4 or its connection is broken or maliciously disconnected, it is evident that the throw rod could be moved by the switch machine, but the switch points would remain stationary. In the switch machine shown and hereinbefore described it is necessary t rock the tripper arm 73 before the proper circuits for the indication are set up. This tripper arm 73 is rocked by the dogs 72 on the lock rod] 5, and consequently, as the switch points move and carry with them the lock rod 5, this tripper arm 7 3 is rocked to the proper position to be actuated by the indication slide 34 and thereby cause the pole-changer t set up the proper indication circuit. However, if the switch points do not move, the tripper arm 7 3 is not rocked and consequently, the proper indication circuit is not set up.

The upturned flange 38 of the indication slide 34, being of relatively thin material, might be injured by striking the sides of the notches 66 in the lock rod 5, in case said notches were not exactly alined with said flange. In the construction shown and described, duringthe time that the upturned flange 38 is moving in and out of the notches 66 of the lock rod 5 it lies snugly against the rear end of the locking dog 33,.

and consequently said locking dog protects said flange from injury.

Under ordinary conditions the tripper arm 7 3 swings by its own weight forwardly as soon as the upturned flange 38 of the indication slide 34 is withdrawn from contact with its front face; but it may happen that said tripper will be frozen or stuck in some way so that its weight is not sufficient to move it. In such a case, when the lock rod 5 is actuated, and said tripper arm 7 3 is rocked, thearms 57 and 61 might be improperly moved. To obviate any possible dangerous results in case the tripper arm 73 should be frozen, said tripper arm is provided with a downward extension, shown to the best advantage in Figs. 4 and 5, which is arranged so as to strike the'boss of the lower bearing of the shaft 48 and force said tripper arm forwardly as it is rocked from one side of said shaft &8 to the other.

Although I have particularly described the construction of one physical embodiment of my invention, and explained the operation and principle thereof; nevertheless, I desire to have it understood that the form selected is merely illustrative but does not exhaust the possibl physical embodiments of the idea of means underlying my invention.

WVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a. motor having its arma ture mounted to rotate on a horizontal axis, a main driving gear mounted to rotate on the vertical axis and operatively connected to said motor, means for locking the switch and means for throwing the switch, both 01 said means being arranged underneath said main gear and operatively connected therewith.

2. An electrically operated switch machine comprising means for locking the switch points against movement, a motor having an armature for operating said looking means and for moving the switch, normal and reverse operating circuits for said motor, a pole-changer for changing the polarity of the connection between said operating circuits and said armature of said motor, electrically operated means included in each operating circuit for shifting said pole-changer, and means for making and breaking electrical connection between each of said electricallyoperated means and its respective circuit, said last mentioned means being operable independently of said locking means.

3. An electrically operated switch machine comprising locking means for locking the switch points of the switch, a motor for operating said locking means and for moving said switch and a device for controlling the direction of rotation of said motor, said device being operable separately from said locking means.

4. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor having an armature for operating said switch, a source of electrical current, a pole-changer for reversing the polarity of the connection between said source and said armature of said motor. a controller for controlling said motor and said pole-changer, and means for controlling the operation of said pole-changer by said controller, said means being operated by said motor prior to the operation of any of the other parts of the switch operating mechanism.

5. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a main gear mounted on a vertical axis, a locking bar having a cam slot therein, a throw rod having a laterally opening jaw, said locking bar and said throw rod being arranged below said gear and a downwardly projecting pin fixed to said gear and arranged to enter said jaw of said throw rod and to cooperate with said cam slot of said locking bar.

6. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a pole-changer, coils for shifting said pole-changer, circuit controlling devices for said coils, a main gear for operating the switch, a slide operatively connected to said gear and reciprocated thereby, said slide having a longitudinal slot therein which is widest at one end, and a member having a portion thereof guided by said slot and operatively connected to said circuit controlling devices, the portion of said member guided by said slot being substantially as wide as said slot, whereby said member and said circuit controlling device are held from movement except at the begining and end of the movement of said slide.

7. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a throw rod connected to the switch points and having a laterally opening jaw, said throw rod having shoulders on each side of said jaw, a main driving gear, a pin fixed to said gear and arranged to engage in said jaw of said throw rod, and a locking bar having a lock dog adapted to engage one of said shoulders of said throw rod when said throw rod is in one or the other of its extreme positions.

8. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor having an armature for operating said switch, a source of electric current, a controller for said motor, a pole-changer for changing the polarity of the connection between said source and said armature of said motor, and means operatively connected tosaid motor for shifting said polc-changer, said means normally holding said pole-changer against movement.

9. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a main driving gear, a pin fixed to said gear, a throw rod having a laterally opening jaw adapted to receive said pin, said throw rod having shoulders on each side of said jaw, a lock rod connected to the switch points and having spaced notches therein, a locking bar, a lock dog fixed to said locking bar and arranged to engage one of said shoulders of said throw rod and another lock dog fixed to said locking bar and arranged to enter one of the notches of said lock rod.

10. An electrically operated switch ma chine comprising a motor for locking and unlocking and for moving the switch, a polechanger operated by said motor, and means operatively connected to the switch points of said switch for selectively controlling the direction in which said pole-changer is operated by said motor.

11. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor for operating said switch, a pole-changer, an arm operatively connected to said pole-changer, a trippe-r arm, a slide operated by said motor and arranged to move said tripper arm against said first mentioned arm, thereby shifting said pole-changer, and means operatively connected to the switch points of said switch for swinging said tripper arm on opposite sides of the pivot axis of said first mentioned arm to correspond with the position of said switch points.

12. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a pole-changer, coils for shifting said pole-changer, circuits for said coils, a device for controlling said circuits, a main gear for operating the switch, a slide reciprocated by said gear, and means operated by said slide for actuating said device, said means operating to hold said device against movement except at one extreme of the reciprocation of said slide.

13. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor for bperating said switch, a pole-changer for controlling said motor, coils for operating said polechanger, circuits for said coils, a device for controlling said circuits, and means controlled by said motor for operating said pole-changer and said device independently.

14. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a driving gear mounted to rotate on a Vertical axis, a pin projecting downwardly from said gear, a throw-rod connected to the switch points of the switch and having a laterally, opening jafw arranged to receive said pin, a bar located below said throw-rod and having a cam slot therein arranged to receive said pin, and means actuated by said bar for locking said throw-rod to hold said switch points against movement. 7

15. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a driving gear, a pin secured to said gear, a throw-rod connected to the switch points of said switch and having a laterally opening jaw arranged to receive said pin, a lock rod connected to said switch points, and means actuated by said pin for locking said throw-rod and also said lock-rod in either of the thrown positions of said switch points.

16. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a throw-rod connected to the switch points of the switch and having a laterally opening jaw, a driving gear mounted to rotate on a vertical axis above said throw-rod, a driving pin secured to said chine comprising a driving gear, a pin pro- 7 jecting downwardly from said driving gear, a throw-rod connected to the switch points of said switch and disposed below said gear, said throw-rod having a laterally opening jaw arranged to receive said pin, and a locking bar mounted below said throw-rod to reciprocate horizontally, said locking bar having a substantially elliptical cam slot therein arranged to receive said pin on said driving gear.

18. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a driving gear, a throwrod connected to the switch points of the switch, means operated by said gear for reciprocating said throw-rod, a motor for operating said driving gear, a pole-changer for controlling said motor, coils for operating said pole-changer, circuits for said coils, a locking bar operated by said driving gear, means operated in accordance with the movements of said locking bar for controlling said pole-changer, a slide operated by said driving gear independently of said locking bar prior to the actuation thereof by said motor, and means controlled by said slide for governing said circuits of said coils.

19. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a throw rod connected to the switch points and having a laterally opening jaw, a locking bar having a cam slot therein, a slide bar having a cam slot therein and adapted to govern the operating circuits, a main gear mounted to rotate on a vertical axis, and a pin projecting from said gear and arranged to cooperate with the j aw in said throw bar and with the cam slots in said throw bar and said slide bar. said parts being organized so that the throw bar, locking bar, and slide bar are operated in sequence during predetermined angles of rotation of the main gear.

20. An electrically operated switch machine comprising, a main gear mounted to rotate on a vertical axis, a motor for driving said gear, a throw rod connected to the e see and to cooperate with said cam slot in said locking bar during predetermined angles in the rotation of said gear.

21. An electrically operated switch machine comprising, a pole changer, coils for operating said pole changer, circuits for said coils, a device for controlling said circuits, a main gear for operating the switch, aslide reciprooated by said gear, and means operated by said slide for actuating said device to an intermediate point permitting either of said circuits to be established, said means operating to hold said device against movement from its intermediate position except at one extreme of the reciprocation of said slide. 7

An electrically operated switch machine comprising, a pole changer, coils for shifting said pole changer, circuits for said coils, and means operated in accordance with the cycle of movements of the switch operating mechanism for closing a break in one of said circuits when the switch is. at. rest in either position, said means being operated by the preliminary movements of the mechanism to close a break in the other of said circuits and being further operated by the, final movement of said mechanism for opening the break of the first mentioned circuit leaving the break in the other circuit closed.

23. An electrically operated switch machine comprising, a circuit controller. having a shaft mounted to turn on a vertical axis and havin secured to its lower end a laterally extending foot, an arm secured to said shaft and adapted to turn therewith, another arm loosely journaled on said shaft, each of said arms having a pair of laterally project ing lugs, a separate contact carrier operatively connected to each of said arms, a tripper arm mounted to swing horizontally and to be oscillated, in a direction at right angles to said swinging movement by the movements of the switch points, to either of two extreme positions, said tripper arm being adapted to register with a corresponding lug of each of said arms in either of its extreme positions, and a slide bar operated by the motor and having an elongated slot with one end enlarged arranged in cooperative relation with the foot on said shaft, whereby a preliminary movement of said bar from its final position will cause the shaft to be turned and the contact carrier governed by said fixed arm to be moved to a middle position and held in said position until the final movement of the slide bar, said slide bar being also provided with a projection adapted to engage said tripper arm. whereby both of said arms together with their contact carriers will be moved to an opposite extreme position when the slide bar is moved to its final position.

2 L An electrically operated switch machine comprising, a circuit controller having a shaft mounted to turn on a vertical axis and having secured to itslower end a laterally extending foot, an arm secured to said shaft and adapted to turn therewith, said arm having a pair of laterally projecting lugs, a contact carrier operatively connected to said arm, a tripper arm mounted to swing horizontally and to be oscillated in a direc tion at right angles to, said swinging movement, by the movements of said switch points, to either of two extreme positions, said tripper arm being adapted to register with a lug of said arm in either of its extreme positions, and a slide bar operated by said motor and having an elongated slot with one end enlarged arranged in cooper ative relation with the foot on said shaft, whereby a preliminary movement of said bar from its final position will cause the shaft to. be turned and the contact carrier governed by said fixed arm to be. moved to a middle position and held in said position until the final movement of the slide bar, said slide bar being also provided with a projection adapted to engage said tripper arm, whereby said fixed arm together with its contact carrier will be moved to an opposite extreme position.

25. An electrically operated switch machine comprising, a circuit controller having a shaft mounted on a vertical axis, an arm loosely mounted on said shaft and adapted to turn thereon, said arm having a pair of laterally projecting lugs, a contact carrier operatively connected to said arm, a tripperarm mounted to swing horizontally and to be oscillated in a direction at right angles to said swinging movement, by the move ment of the switch points, to either of two extreme positions, said tripper arm being adapted to register with a lug on said arm in either of its extreme positions, and a slide bar operated by said motor and having a projection adapted to engage said tripper arm, whereby said arm, on said shaft, together with its contact carrier, will be moved to an opposite extreme position by the final movement of said slide bar.

26. An electrically operated switch machine comprising, a throw rod, a locking bar, a lock rod and a slide bar, a motor for moving said throw bar to operate the switch and for reciprocating said locking bar and said slide bar, in succession, circuit controlling means for selectively controlling the normal and reverse operating circuits for said motor. and means controlled jointly by said slide bar and said lock rod for 'operating said circuit controlling means.

27. An electrically operated switch machine comprising, a motor for operating the switch, a pole changer operated by said motor for controlling the normal and reverse operating circuits for said motor, a lock rod connected to the switch points of the switch, an oscillatable tripper arm operated by said lock rod to either of two extreme positions in accordance with the movements of the switch for selectively determining the direction to Wlllth said pole changer is operated by said motor, and means operated by said motor after said switch points have been moved and locked for actuating said tripper arm to shift said pole changer to a position corresponding to the position of the s vitch points.

28. An electrically operated switch machine comprising, a throw rod, and a lock rod connected to the switch points, a motor, a locking bar for locking and unlocking said lock rod, a separately movable slide bar, means operated by the motor for reciprocating said locking bar and said slide bar, successively, circuit controlling means for controlling the normal and reverse operating circuits of the motor, and a tripper arm adapted to be oscillated in one plane to either of two extreme positionsbyv the movement of said lock rod in accordance .with the movements of the switch points and to be swung in another plane by the reciprocation of said slide bar, said tripper arm controlling the operation. of said circuit controlling means.

29. An electrically operated switch ma chine comprising a driving gear, a pin secured to said gear, a throw-rod connected to the switch points and having a laterally opening jaw arranged to receive said pin, a slide-bar having a cam slot therein and adapted to-be reciprocated by said pin to governthe operating circuits, a lock rod connected to the switch points, and means actuated by said pin for locking said throwred and also said lock rod in either of the thrown positions of switch points.

30. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a driving gear, a pin secured to said driving gear, means actuated by said pin for unlocking and locking and for throwing the switch, a pole changer adapted to govern the operating circuits, and a slide bar reciprocated by said pin and having a movement subsequent to the throwing and locking of the switch for operating said pole changer.

31. An electrically operated switch ma chine comprising a motor for unlocking and locking and for throwing the switch, a twopart pole-changer having two sets of contact springs grouped together with separately movable contact blocks, and means operated by said motor for operating said movable contact blocks separately and jointly to govern the controlling circuits for said motor.

32. An electrically operated switch machine, comprising a motor for unlocking and locking and for throwing the switch, a two-part pole-changer for governing the operating circuits for said motor, said polechanger having two sets of contacts grouped together with separately movable contact blocks, and means including a reciprocating slide bar operated by said .motor for moving one of said movable contact blocks to an in'tern'iediatc circuit controlling position prior to the movement of the switch and for holding that contact block in said intermediate position until. the switch is completely thrown and locked, said means also moving both contact blocks to any extreme position corresponding to the position of the switch after the switch is locked.

An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor for unlocking and locking and for throwing the switch, a pole changer governing the operating circuits for said motor, said pole changer being a apted to be held mechanically a circuit controlling position corresponding to the locked position of the switch, and means operated by said motor for releasing said pole. changer prior to the unlocking of d switch.

An electrically. operated switch ma chine, comprising a motor for unlocking and locking and for throwing the switch, a pole changer geverning the operating circuits for said motor, said pole-changer being adapted to be held mechanically in a circuit controlling position corresponding to the locked position ofthe switch, coils for shifting said pole changer, circuits for said coils, deviccfor controlling circuits, means operated by said motor for releasing said polechanger and for actuating said device to establish the circuits for said coils prior to the unlocking of said switch.

WINTHROP K. HOWE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Pat nts, Washington, D. G. 

